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The Orioles always give out the Most Valuable Oriole award at the end of every season. With about a month left in the season, who in your opinion is the most deserving player on this team for this award, looking at it from the whole year and also not just in terms of stats, but also looking at leadership and non-categorized play making abilities?

No doubt in my mind it's Jeremy Guthrie. A sub 4 era in the AL East, almost assuredly over 200 innings, makes every start, and gives the bullpen a break more times then not. This guy is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball.

DougDE wrote:No doubt in my mind it's Jeremy Guthrie. A sub 4 era in the AL East, almost assuredly over 200 innings, makes every start, and gives the bullpen a break more times then not. This guy is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball.

While I agree that Guthrie deserves more than a big look at the honor, you have to remember how he has found success. It has mostly come in the 2nd half of the season. He said himself that he used the all-star break to think things over, and that obviously helped. While he was alright before the break (went into it with a 4.77 ERA, 3-10 record), Jeremy has shined since coming back, going 6-3 with a 2.92 ERA in 61.2 IP in 10 starts. With a 2:8 K:BB ratio in his two starts right before the break, he has had stellar command since, with a ratio of 42:12.

Definitely helps out the bullpen, as well, with his ability to eat up innings lately.

DougDE wrote:No doubt in my mind it's Jeremy Guthrie. A sub 4 era in the AL East, almost assuredly over 200 innings, makes every start, and gives the bullpen a break more times then not. This guy is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball.

My thoughts exactly. Before Showalter was here, our young starters weren't going deep into games and the bullpen was dead. Guthrie has been the most consistent SP and allowed the bullpen to stay strong during the early stages of the season. Wasn't Kevin Millwood supposed to be our ace?

DougDE wrote:No doubt in my mind it's Jeremy Guthrie. A sub 4 era in the AL East, almost assuredly over 200 innings, makes every start, and gives the bullpen a break more times then not. This guy is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball.

My thoughts exactly. Before Showalter was here, our young starters weren't going deep into games and the bullpen was dead. Guthrie has been the most consistent SP and allowed the bullpen to stay strong during the early stages of the season. Wasn't Kevin Millwood supposed to be our ace?

Millwood. Hahaha. He has been a joke. Came in, and his innings-eating abilities are basically when he can pound the strike zone with his few solid pitches. But since he has struggled with walks and then tried being too perfect, he lets up lots of base hits that all add up. Let alone that horrible mark of like 14 of 15 games where he let up at least 2 runs in the 1st. That may not be exact, but something like that. And that's depressing to hear. Seriously. You would think that is a coincidence at some point, but no, it just continued.

GeorgeD4 wrote:I would agree it's Guthrie. Second for me is Wigginton. Held down second base and hit great. Then developed into a pretty good fielder at first base. He has been very reliable.

The only reason I would say Wiggy over a guy like Guthrie or even Scott would be for his ability to fill in in solid fashion, though not so great lately. Too bad there is no stat category for "being a good sport."

GeorgeD4 wrote:Not even average production for a Major League rightfielder.

Consider that he has like no protection. Nobody's giving him anything good to hit. If you want to see the difference protection can make, look at Nick Swisher. Guarantee you if he was in an OK lineup, he'd be an afterthought. Nick just needs to stay in the #2 spot and get Brian on base for him. Get a good #3 guy behind him and you'll see the Markakis of old come back.